The best time to take an SAT II Subject Test is right
after you’ve finished a year-long course in that subject. If, for
example, you’ve finished extensive courses on algebra and geometry by
the eleventh grade, then you should take the Math IC test near the
end of that year when the subject is still fresh in your mind. (This
rule does not apply for the writing, literature, and foreign language
SAT II tests; it’s best to take those after you’ve had as much study
in the area as possible.)

Unless the colleges to which you are applying use the
SAT II for placement purposes, there is no point in taking any SAT
II tests after November of your senior year, since you won’t get
your scores back from ETS until after college application deadlines
have passed.

ETS usually sets testing dates for SAT II Subject Tests
in October, November, December, January, May, and June. However,
not every subject test is administered in each of these months.
To check when the test you want to take is being offered, visit
the College Board website at www.collegeboard.com or do some research
in your school’s guidance office.

Registering for SAT II Tests

To register for the SAT II test(s) of your choice, you
have to fill out some forms and pay a registration fee. We know,
we know—it’s ridiculous that you have to pay for
a test that colleges require you to take in order to make their jobs
easier. But, sadly, there isn’t anything we, or you, can do about
it. It is acceptable for you to grumble here about the unfairness
of the world.

After grumbling, of course, you still have to register.
There are two ways to register: online or by mail. To register online,
go to www.collegeboard.com. To register by mail, fill out and send
in the forms enclosed in the Registration Bulletin,
which should be available in your high school’s guidance office.
You can also request a copy of the Bulletin by
calling the College Board at (609) 771-7600 or writing to:

College Board SAT Program
P.O. Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200

You can register to take up to three SAT II tests for
any given testing day. Unfortunately, even if you decide to take
three tests in one day, you’ll still have to pay a separate registration
fee for each.